ARTICLES ABOUT TRAVELERS BY DATE - PAGE 5

Traveler-advocacy groups are hopping mad at proposed legislation they say would help airlines hide the total cost of airfares. But airlines contend they're not the ones doing the hiding; it's Uncle Sam. The controversy is over bill HR 4156, dubbed the Transparent Airfares Act of 2014. The measure would allow airfares to be advertised without government taxes and fees included, and it could make headway in Congress in coming weeks. The Business Travel Coalition on Monday called the Transparent Airfares Act an "Orwellian-titled bill" that undermines a 2012 rule by the Department of Transportation that requires airlines to prominently display total ticket prices so consumers can make better buying decisions.

It hasn't been easy, but Jennifer Martens' struggles with Ocwen Loan Servicing appear to be nearing an end. Martens, featured in the April 8 column, had her mortgage switched from IndyMac to Ocwen in November - and promptly saw her account devolve into disarray. Due to a series of errors by the loan servicer, several payments to Ocwen did not get applied to her account. By March, Ocwen showed Martens' account as in default, despite the fact she had paid her monthly mortgage on time.

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's Health Ministry issued a warning on Friday against children, elderly people and anyone suffering from chronic heart and chest diseases travelling to Saudi Arabia due to an outbreak there of a deadly new virus. Saudi Arabia said on Thursday the number of cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), an often fatal disease caused by a coronavirus, had nearly doubled in April, with 26 more infections reported on Tuesday and Wednesday. Of the more than 370 people who caught the disease in Saudi Arabia, 107 have died since MERS first emerged two years ago. The first case of the disease in Egypt was reported on Saturday - a 27-year-old man who lives in Saudi Arabia but returned ill to Egypt last week after having been in contact with an uncle in the kingdom who died of MERS.

The first U.S. case of a respiratory virus that has caused deadly outbreaks in the Middle East is a man who traveled through O'Hare International Airport on his way to Indiana, but officials said the man was in good condition and the risk of others being infected was small. The man, who was not identified, was being treated for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) at Community Hospital in Munster, which said in a statement it is "maintaining appropriate isolation protocols for the protection of health care staff.

By Larry Habegger and Dani Burlison, Special to Tribune Newspapers | May 1, 2014

Colombia: A British tourist died April 23 near the small town of Mocoa in the department of Putumayo after taking a hallucinogenic drug. The 19-year-old died apparently after ingesting ayahuasca, also known as yage, on two occasions as part of a ritual with a local tribe. His body was found dumped on a dirt road. Though ayahuasca rituals catering to tourists continue to grow increasingly accessible, with thousands of backpackers taking the drug every year, travelers should be wary of fake shamans attempting to make a few bucks in unethical situations.

Hyatt Hotels Corp. reported a 10 percent rise in quarterly revenue as growth in business travel in North America boosted both occupancy and room rates. Net income attributable to Hyatt rose to $56 million, or 36 cents per share, in the first quarter, from $8 million, or 5 cents per share, a year earlier. Hyatt, which owns and operates hotels under brands such as Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt and Hyatt Regency, reported earnings of 13 cents per share, excluding items. Revenue rose to $1.07 billion from $975 million. H data by YCharts

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lawmakers on Wednesday questioned the Transportation Security Administration's ability to keep travelers safe and prevent terrorism attacks, citing recent incidents that included a teenager who scaled a fence at a California airport and stowed away in the wheel well of a Hawaii-bound jet. The TSA, which was formed after the September 11, 2001, attacks, annually screens about 640 million travelers and 1.5 billion bags on...

For serious golfers, Scotland is a mecca. And this year, Scotland hosts the Ryder Cup, the biennial professional match-play competition between teams from Europe and the United States. Sept. 23-28, the course at Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire will be the place to see some of the world's best players as the U.S. team tries to come back from two straight losses. Sceptre Tours has put together the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles package for those who want to get in on the action. Top on the list of inclusions in the package, of course, is a Ryder Cup season ticket, good from Thursday through Sunday.

By Margaret Backenheimer, Special to Tribune Newspapers | April 24, 2014

Warmer, brighter days will surely prevail in May, luring travelers to outdoor fests such as the Little Norway Festival in the picturesque fishing town of Petersburg, Alaska. On a more somber note, this month Quebec marks the centenary of a tragic maritime event, and New York's long-awaited 9/11 museum finally opens its doors for public viewing. May 3: Cinco de Mayo Festival & Chihuahua Races, Chandler, Ariz., chandleraz.gov. Every dog has his day at annual Hispanic celebration. May 3-5: Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza, Llandudno, Wales, victorian-extravaganza.com.